The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-16
CONCERNING BOOKS.
By E. cAvAzzA.

s..- rs.-S1 ,zasec roand a rIcn literary DO
nanza in the western land of the Argonauts
of 49, and though it may be that no man
save Mr.. Harte himself has seen or erwill
see the precise locality of his claim, his re-
ports of that territory and its inhabitants
have all the force of truth and fascination
of fancy. His latest volume, a Millionaire
of Rough and Ready Boston: Houghton,
Miffln & Co.; Portland: Loring, Short &
Harmonl, contains passages from the histo-
ry of his unique realm, related with an i'm
agination so clear and vigorous that it fairly
materializes itself. Truth in fiction is, in
Decd quite different thing from truth in
fact. The magnificent unimpassioned men,
dacity of Robinson Crusoe or Around the
World in so Days, is based upon a greater
amount of solid scientific learning than could
be relevantly included in novel which
should treat of the daily beauty of the life of
Beacon street. The romances just cited are
noble examples of the ''lie with a circum-
stance" They are truths told with the in
tent to deceive-which, as all diplomatists
will1ttest, is the most artistic form of mis-
representation. Yet, certain impossible
conditions having been taken for granted,
these are followed with logic Of consis-
lency which almost attains to truth; and is
t lghtly accepted by the reader, who would,
: lrhaps, accord scant measure of sympathy
t tan accurate, but cold and pulseless study
n ofsverMay existence, not informed with the
: 1reof liing fancy. The instructive love of
/ trnt exiss in us all, more or less modified
II by ciyillzaAn, and is directly appealed to by
l. Mr.. Harte A7elineations. His canons and
gulches, his rrobates rendered irritable by
the pricklng ohew-fledged angelic pinions
2 at their shoulae9lades, his western miners,
whose diaiecl hone-tenth Dickens and
. wholly delicious, ZONE a part of the world
and people OF our IDS. 1t is true that Mr..
- darte' nulian 2nd not merely an in
- carnate lype-wil.el' ipbject to fluctuations
IL of his literary gift. Gain Localities and
Is conditions have appeart I'm favorabl. 70 his
m best work But in a Mill ire Of Rouob and
y Ready he is quite in hmost fortrn.t.
I'd mood, as those readers W nrobablv aoraa
al, who can make due allowanso tba ,aclr 80
n the element of surprise tina orn, ~. mort ~
ue the delight Of the public in, osr,,, ,rr;+
ings. A larger and more 81 dramat;o
,ra sense. even, appears to have 81 nm in lii
On imaginas-an. The case of the mi ~
p.-~ i wirn7r-ralysfs the moment Of s'iich g
usi- SLOW healing of his rnr4a while evSS' 'ne
the around him upon false premises. tn move
,ted Gus episode of the re-discovery of gent
urt. are in Mr.. Harte's most brilliant Fad,
OF a And charming episode is that of theer.
rug REL pursuing his simple schemes in the +
and of the hollow tree, an unconscious ms
II ment Of destiny.
Ter The story is unfailing in its interest,
rad the same praise may be given to its com
the ion in the volume, DEVILS Ford. This
ritv lighter and perhaps more exaggerated !
,ard per. The colorsof its comedy is given by
appearance in rough mining camp
family which includes two young la
adj For the sweet sake of these gentle pers
his who possess many feminine graces somey
re- accumulated, the marners and customs
- -77-,----,, ,.--ergo sudden reyisal and
de- rection. A deliciously preposterous figu,
the that Of Whiskey Dick-if IL he nernoitts
In quote his nom de gue,re. This .lco,,
ny oiu' WIN MS unsteady attempts att
'iih lormlty with social etiquette, his mauf
70 uishlty OIL demeanor, and genuine chiy,
'ne sohiewnat disguised by drink, is a pict
ers .nas only Mr.. Harte, with the courage Of
leu convictions OF his fancy could render lifel
aw and real. ei iiioi
the
u " an ann and nature very different fr
MS MI Hartes realism of the Impossible Il
M ne" novel-or study, as its author mama
lat by christian Reid With the guide OF 4
mt subtitle the reader will not expect /.
ir. nance OF events, or rather one in vbi
ms events play the leading part in its devell
an inent MISS Churchill (New York: d. A
IL Pleoon q Co.; Portland Loring. Short
harmon) is study of characters and tyn,
ana perhaps it is not unnatural to find 1
- mental tendencies and psychical nrobIay
N ol us personages made little more mote,
10 anu prominent than they would be in actin
,s nie, Inc heroine strikes one as a min
! WIN its ambitions and longings. scmcub
a .oo Snghtly embodied; rather tyne than ,
p INDIVIDUAL. The hero, Mr.. Lysle. is one N,
never would be met in novel written h
\ vsner Inan feminine hand; he is free FRI,
ene coullctlng impulses. the pressure NJ ~,
cumstances that mans novel always 70 W. ~
into account. But he is an ideal of abneas
, .ion ana devotion; and it is well that sue
types De presented in literature. On tn
WHOLE MISS Churchill is a romance which
eo"eWhat unreal in its theories of life aat
, CONVENTIONAL In its art, may yet Justly b,
! praised Tor It's high tone and thoufhtful
, execution. The descriptive passages. includ
ing the vicinity of Florence, as sen from ,
, noble villa, and an excursion alons the Nile.
are at once poetic and clear.
The Common Chord New York Cassell
eco; Portland: Loring short & Harmon)
a story of the Ninth ward of New York
city, and its author Ne. Henry 2 E1liott